Stanley Cup Final - Tampa Bay Lightning (2) vs Dallas Stars (3)

[SebC]

If Dallas wins, we're the second best team in the NHL.

[calgarygeologist]

I like this matchup. It should be a great Stanley Cup final. I want to say TB wins but they just seem to have too many hurt guys right now so I think Dallas can outplay them.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I think Dallas has proven the doubters wrong time and time again. They're playing a strong playoff brand, and have been for a while now, beating some very good teams. I wasn't sure about them beating Colorado due to their 3rd string goaltender situation, but they just beat a pretty strong Knights team fairly easily.

Tampa was put to the test by an Islanders team playing strong team defense and systemic play, which has traditionally been their Achilles' heel. It would be foolish to dismiss them in this equation as well. They seem to be the more talented team, but do they match up well with Dallas? I have my doubts.

I'm saying Dallas in 7. Should be an interesting series.

[Benched]

Go Tampa!

[Vinny01]

Go Dallas

“We were beaten by the best”

[foofighter15]

Gotta cheer for Dallas so we can at least feel good tbat no one else could beat them. That and '04....

[Northendzone]

i'd like to see tampa win and point get the conn smythe........as it likely represents my best/only shot at being invited to a stanley cup party

[CroFlames]

I hope Dallas. Gurianov lights it up, Heiskanen wins the Conn Smythe and they pay these guys a gazillion bucks a year. Dallas in cap hell, western conference capitalizes. Plus they get a lower draft position if they win.

[OldSam]

Meh. I like Tampa's players better but I really don't have much interest. I do think that Dallas will injure a couple of the Bolts just to make their path to the Cup easier.

Rick Bowness is a Maritimer so I won't cheer against him. I guess you could say I am solidly on the fence.

[PegCityFlamesFan]

I can only imagine the ratings this series/conference finals has had. With basketball playoffs and football starting, baseball playoffs around the corner and college football the NHL must be getting murdered.

[The Hendog]

Cheering for Tampa because I really like local boy Brayden Point.

Hopefully he is healthy enough to be a difference maker in the finals!

[MoneyGuy]

Cheering for Tampa.

I think they win in 7.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by SebC

If Dallas wins, we're the second best team in the NHL.

Hopefully Tampa loses in 5 or less

Calgary>Vegas/Tampa

[Flamenspiel]

To me, Tampa is really hurting, their skilled players in particular are not 100%. That should play to Dallas’s advantage.

[dammage79]

Dallas is reasted, haven't been through hell like TB. Sweep for Stars.

[Matata]

I'd cheer for Tampa if they weren't ####ing Tampa.

[Mathgod]

The result will either be...

"The Calgary Flames didn't win the Stanley Cup; the Tampa Bay Lightning did."

or

"The Calgary Flames barely lost to the Stanley Cup champions."

[Lanny'sDaMan]

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

It is the fifth time the Stars/North Stars have advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, including three times since relocating to Dallas from Minnesota before the 1993-94 season. The Stars defeated the Buffalo Sabres in six games to win the Cup in 1999 and lost to the New Jersey Devils in six games in 2000.

The North Stars lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games in the 1991 Cup Final.

The Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2004, defeating the Calgary Flames in seven games, and lost a six-game Final to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015.

https://www.nhl.com/news/dallas-star...al/c-319029608

Surprising the NHL link didn't mention the first time the North Stars made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. The North Stars lost to the NY Islanders in five games in the 1981 final.

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Normally, you never want to see a sweep in the final.

I would love to see Dallas swept.

That being said I think they push the Bolts around enough to stretch it out.

It's been 22 years since the last sweep of the SC Finals. There were 4 consecutive sweeps of the finals at that time (1995 to 1998).